Chris Fort has dominated the 2009 season and has been calling for a challenger to step forward. Whilst the battle behind Fort has been very strong, 2008 World Champion Kevin Stuchbury has been under performing and very much owed himself some better drives. Scunthorpe gave Stuchbury momentum, Buxton called for much more.

The 25th anniversary was well and truly celebrated with drivers old and new, a display of old photographs, programmes, magazines and videos. The first event of the day was a veterans race which fielded 14 ex Hotstox drivers from all eras of the previous 25 years.

The vets gridded up after a Grande Parade lap and the green flag fell with 191 Ashley Boam in the 331 Jay Beaumont car making the early running with 30 Mark Jones in the 179 Richard Arrowsmith car slotting in to 2nd after 58 Brandon Marlow's 430 Paul Stevens car faltered. 7 Nigel Parker in son Daz's car made great early progress as 488 Andy Turner in his old car now owned by 147 Colin Taylor spun off on the back straight. Unperturbed, Turner rejoined the fray. 70 Chris Flynn was going very well in the 3 Chris Fort car as was 96 Pete Morris in the 361 Steve Reedman car. However, making the most progress was 55Paul Fantom in the 240 Tom Conwell car who started at the back of the field and was up to 4th by lap 10. By this time, Parker had hit the front, Turner had everything he could and Flynn ran 2nd. 205 Mark Hall closed in on Flynn driving the 210 Matt Smith car with Fantom also getting close. On the last lap the pressure tolled on Flynn as he lost out to both Hall and Fantom as Parker crossed the line for the win with Hall and Fantom his placemen.

Veterans race results (borrowed car no. in brackets):

7 Nigel Parker (237), 205 Mark Hall (210), 55 Paul Fantom (240), 70 Chris Flynn (3), 11 Kev Cummins (281), 191 Ash Boam (331), 96 Pete Morris (361), 30 Mark Jones (179), 132 Martin Fitzgerald (439), 147 Tony Sykes (129)

Heat 1 gridded all 31 cars with debuts from 482 Baz Watson who was making his return to racing after a 10 year lay off in a very well turned out car which last saw action 10 years ago - the ex Darren Summers car. 499 Rob Whittaker debuted his brand new car which was built in a little over 4 weeks - an amazing effort from the Paul Heath crew and a very nice job they'd done too. 222 Guy Jolly leading them away. 361 Steve Reedman took over on lap 2 whilst Chris Fort in the 3 was passing cars in clumps from the rear of the field on his way to the front which he achieved on lap 8 with 131 Kevin Stuchbury slotting in to 2nd and 161 Mark Allen 3rd. The top 3 remained unchanged all the way to the chequered although Stuchbury did get close enough to have a pop at Fort on the final bend which the leader did well to hold. Behind the top 3 there were some proper battles going on with 281 Lee Summers coming home 4th and 210 Matt Smith getting the better of namesake 81 Matt Smith for 5th.

Heat 2 was led away by 130 Jeremy Ridley until lap 4 when 240 Tom Conwell took over at the front. 281 Lee Summers was making significant headway from the Blues and likewise 131 Stuchbury from the back who'd managed to get away from Fort. Stuchbury made it to the front on lap 7 with Fort relieving Conwell of 2nd a lap later. Conwell then had his mirrors filled with Red tops as the Smith's in 81 and 210 were gaining fast. The lap boards greeted Stuchbury who had Fort close behind seemingly planning a last bend attack but, he fooled us all by fencing Stuchbury with two laps to spare and sailed by for a comfortable win with Stuchbury coming home 2nd with wheelguard / back bumper damage. 5th placed Conwell had to give best to both Smith's as 210 and 81 filled positions 3 and 4.

The Final -for the Buxton Cup - again saw 130 Ridley lead them away. 147 Colin Taylor forced his way by on lap 2 and went on to build a very nice lead for himself. 281 Summers was again going well and passed 361 Steve Reedman for 2nd. Fort and Stuchbury were once again relentlessly ploughing through the field and made it to the front on lap 10 as Fort began to pull away from 131. Just as Fort had one hand on the trophy, he coasted to a halt with a dry fuel tank. Stuchbury said thank you very much on his way past to claim the Buxton Cup. Summers made it by Taylor for 2nd with 355 Bryan Andrew relieving Taylor of 3rd on the penultimate lap as Taylor then lost positions to fall down the order and finish an unlucky 8th.

With Fort departing the Final, it left the Northern and Midland Championship wide open. Stuchbury led with Bryan Andrew and Lee Summers in joint 2nd. Barring disaster, the winner would come from those three with Summers needing to win the GN and rely on Stuchbury not returning to a high position from his lap handicap. Similarly, Andrew was looking for the same result as Summers whilst Stuchbury need only place in the top 5 or 6 to nail the Championship.

112 Jamie Marson led the field away but tangled with 361 Reedman down the back straight - just as 281 Summers who was flying came upon the pair. Summers tried to squeeze by on the inside only to have Marson and Reedman come across and take him onto the infield and into some marker tyres to end any hopes of the Northern and Midland. Colin Taylor then took it up but could not hold off a flying 355 Andrew who swept by to lead the race and keep his hopes of taking the title. Fort soon joined Andrew and seemed willing to help the 355 cause as he sat glued to Andrew's back bumper. Meanwhile, Stuchbury had made slow progress and was languishing amongst the lower places from his lap handicap which gave Andrew the Championship as things stood. Fort then passed Andrew for the lead just as Stuchbury jumped by quite a few cars to gain those all important placings. Fort duly took the flag as Andrew came home a hopeful 2nd. It all came down to Stuchbury's placing and he amazing brought the 131 car home in 6th which saw him with enough points to keep his lead in the points and retain the Northern and Midland Championship.

An excellent day's racing with the title being decided at the wire - just how it should be. A disappointed Bryan Andrew will have his day one day and Stuchbury will be thanking lady luck for bringing him the silverware.

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